Seeing the truth is not yet the same as surrendering to it. I can name my defects in private, study their roots, and even understand their consequences, but as long as I keep them locked inside, I am still protecting them.

There is something freeing in saying the truth aloud to another person. What I am ashamed of begins to lose some of its power when it is spoken plainly, without excuses or performance. In that moment I become more honest, more real, and less alone.

This step is not about formality, and it is not about saying as much as possible. It is about admitting the exact nature of my wrongs, so that I stop living in half-truths. What I only analyse can still keep control over me. What I honestly admit can finally begin to change.

#lent #12steps #step5